Mike Perrello Magichttps://funmagicshows.com
Make your next event exciting and memorableThu, 05 Sep 2019 19:59:15 +0000en-US
hourly
1 Travel to the Caribbean in September? Are you crazy?https://funmagicshows.com/travel-to-the-caribbean-in-september-are-you-crazy/
Thu, 05 Sep 2019 19:59:15 +0000https://funmagicshows.com/?p=218380Read More »]]>Yes, September is peak hurricane season. And yes, Caribbean islands tend to get hammered when hurricanes form.
And yet — cheaper rates, anyone?
If you’re willing to take a bit of a gamble — and to be fair, the odds of a hurricane are actually relatively low — you could wind up visiting beautiful islands at a fraction of the price if you travel in September.
Rooms and flights are at their lowest in September in a place like Jamaica, for example. A number of hotels and resorts do close, so you’ll have to check around.
You might consider mid- to late-September, perhaps, and make sure to purchase travel insurance. Then keep an eye on The Weather Channel and plan accordingly.
And just to put things in perspective, here are some statistics from a Trip Savvy article:
* Bermuda has a one-in-four annual chance of being affected by a hurricane; Nassau, Bahamas, about one in five.
* However, the islands of the southernmost Caribbean, including Aruba, Barbados, Curacao, Bonaire, Grenada, and Trinidad and Tobago, rarely get hit. Bonaire has a 2.2 percent annual risk.
* The islands of the Western Caribbean are less likely to be affected than those of the Eastern Caribbean.
* The Dow Jones Index ranked Curacao as the Caribbean island least likely to be hit by a hurricane, followed by Bonaire, Grand Cayman, Barbados, and Aruba.
]]>High tech heightens your golf gamehttps://funmagicshows.com/high-tech-heightens-your-golf-game/
Thu, 05 Sep 2019 19:51:31 +0000https://funmagicshows.com/?p=218377Read More »]]>
Golf has gone so high tech.
According to Forbes, technology has worked wonders in the elements of golf knowledge, data, connectivity, entertainment, and convenience.
Leading the way are the enhancements in golf equipment, says BleacherReport.com.
Refined aerodynamics, shafts, lighter weights, and expanded heads of driver clubs, for example, enable a player to lash the ball farther and straighter than ever before. Swinging the club is more comfortable, and the final placement of the shot is more forgiving, if not spot on.
Want to improve your swing? Tech analyzers can help you do it. There’s a swing glove that monitors the motion of your swing. Or a chip that can be clipped to your favorite glove. A free app will provide you with a 3D review of the path of your swing, its velocity, plane, consistency, and speed of the club’s head.
Another sensor in your pocket could even trace the rotation of your hips.
How far away is that hole you’re pursuing? A range finder will show you what you cannot see. Optical lenses and laser technology can determine precisely where and how far away that hole resides.
And, finally, good old GPS. Using Google Maps, you’ll know your position, how far, and precisely where you want that little white ball to go.
]]>Protect Your Heart In The Heathttps://funmagicshows.com/protect-your-heart-in-the-heat/
Thu, 25 Jul 2019 19:31:19 +0000https://funmagicshows.com/?p=218357Read More »]]>

Summertime heat brings with it special considerations for those with heart conditions, and it’s especially important to stay hydrated and as cool as possible during these dog days.
For every degree your body’s temperature rises, your heart beats 10 BPM faster, according to Harvard Health. While a study published in 2014 said most cases of atrial fibrillation tend to occur in the winter, those with irregular heartbeats should take special precautions in the summer as well — higher temperatures can trigger AFib as your heart works harder to regulate itself.
Here are some ways to alleviate that stress:
* Stay hydrated. Dehydration is one trigger for atrial fibrillation, not to mention stroke.
* Avoid going outside between about noon and 3 p.m.
* Get in air conditioning. A fan is of little use if it’s circulating 95-degree air.
* Reduce caffeine and alcohol, as these can cause dehydration.
* Avoid exercising in the heat.
* Take a cool shower and put an ice pack under your arm or near the groin.
* Wear well-ventilated shoes.
* Take breaks. Schedule in more breaks than you normally would in order to conserve energy and prevent overheating.

]]>Where To Vacation And Avoid The August Crowdshttps://funmagicshows.com/hows-the-weather/
Thu, 18 Jul 2019 19:27:23 +0000https://funmagicshows.com/?p=218354Read More »]]>
Peanut butter and jelly. Gin and tonic. August and crowds. They just go together.
It's understandable, as work schedules and school schedules seem to allow for a majority of the population's vacations to occur within the same short window of time.
With a little planning, however, it's possible to vacation in August without running into mobs of people.
Here are some recommendations for a crowd-reduced August vacation as compiled by a variety of travel sites:
Sicily, Italy. Less busy than Florence or Rome, Sicily boasts beaches (it is an island after all), history, and great food. August is a hot month, but a nice slice amid smaller crowds might just be worth it.
Mammoth Lakes, Calif. A ski resort town, Mammoth Lakes is also a great summer destination, with five lakes and an abundance of opportunity for hiking, biking, boating, and fishing. And Yosemite National Park is within range for a day trip.
Kauai, Hawaii. Less crowded than Maui or Oahu, but still ... Hawaii.
Sanibel Island, Fla. As with the rest of the state, Sanibel's busy season is in the winter, but there is still plenty of dining, shopping, and beachcombing to be done in summer.
Outer Banks, NC. Gorgeous scenery, lighthouses aplenty, and a small town feel.
Liechtenstein. Conde Nast Traveler reports that Liechtenstein is Europe's second-least-visited country but still has the mountain scenery and excellent museums that its neighbors, Austria and Switzerland, are known for. Plus it would be fun to answer "Liechtenstein" when people ask where you spent your summer vacation.
]]>Easy On The Back and Knees — Stay Fit This Summer With Pool Exerciseshttps://funmagicshows.com/easy-on-the-back-and-knees-stay-fit-this-summer-with-pool-exercises/
Thu, 11 Jul 2019 19:23:44 +0000https://funmagicshows.com/?p=218351Read More »]]>

Pool time is a great way to both relax and raise your activity level.
According to Shape magazine, pool exercises are good for everyone — and great for those with back or knee pain.

Cardio
For cardio and total body exercise, nothing beats laps across the pool. You can use a variety of styles and work on both speed and distance.
Other options to get your heart pumping include water jogging, bicycling, sculling, and jumping jacks. For bicycling, prop yourself up on the side of the pool and move your legs like you are pedaling a bicycle. Sculling involves curling your legs up into a ball and keeping yourself afloat on your back as long as possible by paddling with your arms.

Pool weights for resistance
To get the most out of upper body resistance movements, you’ll want to have access to pool weights or at least some pool noodles which can be purchased in a sporting goods store or found at some public pools. As long as you keep the weights underwater, you can do most traditional gym moves: bicep curls, lateral raises, tricep extensions, and even pushing and pulling to work out your back and chest.
With a pool noodle, do press-down work for your chest and triceps as well as underwater planks.

Lower body workouts
Lower body resistance work such as jumping or running is easier on the back and joints when you are in the water. Experiment with jumping out of the water as high as possible in a variety of stances to get a feel for what works. The wider your legs, the more you will engage your glutes and hamstrings, while narrower positions will work your quads. For inner and outer leg work, stand near the wall with your hand out to keep steady and then extend one leg at a time out to the side and back again as quickly as possible to maximize resistance.

Corn on the cob is a crowd favorite during the summer, and according to Oh Sweet Basil, four secrets will help you prepare it on the grill perfectly. The first step is to pull the husks back on the corn without removing them and strip away the silk strands. Next, fill a large pot with cold water and add a couple of tablespoons of salt to soak your corn in for about 10-15 minutes. With the grill set to medium, cook the corn, still in the husks, for about 15-20 minutes, turning every five minutes. Once tender, pull the corn off and rub butter on as desired. The final secret is to use a 3-to-1 ratio of salt to sugar mixture to sprinkle on your corn just before eating.

Cake. Chrysanthemum. Waterfall. If you’ve ever wondered what to call the different types of fireworks you see during a professional show, other than “that cool one that trailed off,” you’ve come to the right place — and can impress (or annoy) your friends afterward.
Here’s a sampling of official fireworks terminology from the American Pyrotechnics Association:
* Cake: A cluster of small tubes, linked by fuse, that fire small aerial effects at a rapid pace. They are often used in large quantities as part of a show’s finale.
* Chrysanthemum: A spherical break of colored stars that leave a visible trail of sparks.
* Falling Leaves: Stars that twinkle and flutter down.
* Fish: Large inserts that propel themselves rapidly away from the shell burst, often looking like a fish swimming away.
* Palm Tree: Rising comet (trunk) that bursts into six large trailing stars (fronds) and can also have small reports (coconuts).
* Peony: The most commonly seen shell type, with a spherical break of colored stars.
* Waterfall: Named for the shape of its break, this shell features heavy long-burning tailed stars that only travel a short distance from the shell burst before free-falling to the ground. They sometimes include a glittering through the “waterfall.”

* Use fireworks on a hard, flat and level surface. The surface should be in an open area away from buildings, vehicles and shrubbery.
* Use a long-handled lighter so you can keep as far away as possible.
* Light one at a time. If it doesn’t light, don’t try to relight it. Let it stand for five minutes, then immerse it in water.
* Keep water close by, whether it’s a hose or a bucket.
* In windy conditions, light where the wind blows away from spectators and buildings.
* Children should not be allowed to handle, play with, or light fireworks.
* Stay alert. Don’t drink while lighting fireworks.
* Don’t let small children handle sparklers.

Psychologists say fathers give children a sense of well-being, self-control, inner strength and all that good stuff.
But forget all that. Let’s get real. Dads are fun. Maybe there is a Dad School somewhere that teaches them basic Dad stuff because they more or less tend to have some things in common.

Story-telling
When the kids are young, Dads are perfect for story-telling and story reading. Deep voices make the characters come to life (and the listeners giggle). And those stories last forever.

Things that make Mom go “Eww!”
Dads make a great counter-point to moms. There are things she hates: Pull my finger! We know what happens there. Toe lint: Use your imagination.

Dad magic tricks
The ever-popular thumb removal trick, which works best on 4-year-olds but continues well past its shock value.
The lift trick: Lift me up! You can do it! You grab Dad around the legs and lift. Dad stands on tip toes. You did it! Suddenly you are a strong man.

Dad fun
Dad’s driving down the highway. Passes a go-kart track. Makes a U-turn. Because who can pass up a go-kart track? Or Dad, taking you someplace boring, until Dad sees an ice cream place and just like that, it’s a great Saturday afternoon.
Or the day he teaches you to fish.

Dad sayings
Contribute! (That was Motivational Dad.)
I’m going to go into the living room and hold down my chair so it doesn’t get away. (After work Dad)
Remember this: I love you. Your Mom loves you. And God loves you. (Eternal Dad)

]]>Fathers In Film Have Changed Over Timehttps://funmagicshows.com/fathers-in-film-have-changed-over-time/
Thu, 06 Jun 2019 17:31:17 +0000https://funmagicshows.com/?p=218327Read More »]]>

It’s the month that celebrates Father’s Day, which makes it a good time to reflect on the ways fathers have been portrayed on TV.
Dads have traveled quite the route, starting with the 9-to-5 businessman who steered the household, steady and secure. The family around him provided most of the antics, while Father was the straight man — think Ward Cleaver in Leave it to Beaver.
Then there was Andy Griffith, which introduced a single father into the mix. The widowed and wise Griffith was sheriff of the sleepy town of Mayberry and had a young son, Opie. As good a guy as he was, however, Griffith still needed a woman’s influence and help in raising Opie; he lived with his Aunt Bee.
By the 1970s and 1980s, TV saw a mix of fatherly styles, from the ranting Archie Bunker of All In The Family and the put-upon George Jefferson of The Jeffersons to the more serene Mike Brady (again, a widower) and the blended family dynamics of The Brady Bunch. There was also the dual income family with Heathcliff Huxtable as the goofy-but-paternal father in The Cosby Show.
The 1990s brought us the bumbling, even somewhat miserable dad — with Al Bundy arguably kicking off the genre in Married With Children — and the clueless guy. It also introduced the uncle who steps into the father role, with Uncle Phil in The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.
Fast-forward to the 2000s and we’ve got a mix, including same-sex couples (Modern Family), stay-at-home dads (Parenthood), and wisecracking but lovable dad of The Last Man Standing.